I beg leave to submit to you the following Calculations and Observations wch led to the Conclusions in my letter of this date—and first in Corroboration of what I have there said respecting the french debt that “’tis pity the opportunity of paying it at so very favorable an Exchange as the present should be lost.”

The sum due to foreign Officers Vizt: 186,427 Dollars* pays an annual Interest of 6 pr Ct; of this debt therefore

100 Dollrs. now pay	6 Drs.
100 Dollrs. @ 22 Excha.† (say 22d stlg pr demi Ecu or 3 livres) would be equal to or be paid for at 73 Drs. 66⅔ cents the Interest on wch if loand at 4 pr Ct: would be only	2–94⅔ Cents
leaving a benefit to the U.S. of more than half the Annuity Viz	3 Drs 5 ⅓ Cents    Pr Ct.

The above Calculations are at what the Excha: has stood at for some time past, it is now risen to 23 ⅛ at wch rate the following are computed

I cannot but remark here how fully the application of the smallest of those Surpluses to the reduction of the principal would evince the Doctrine in your report of Janry. 17904 that the great secret of Finance is to obtain an Excess of Revenue beyond the Expenditure; and if this were effected in Consequence of the present Government holding inviolable existing Contracts, how fully would it confirm the Assertion in the General’s Circular Letter to the Governors of the different States on leaving the Army that Honesty in States as well as Individuals must ever be found the best and soundest policy.5 I quote from Memory—perhaps not literally but I am confident I am not mistaking in the substance.

The following Calculations are consonant to my Suggestion of benefits to be derived to the U.S. by admitting a proportion of the unsubscribed Debt in part payment of Loans to be contracted &ca:—and I shall confine myself to that part of the unsubscribed Debt wch pending the ascertaining of the Ability of the Government to discharge all its Obligations, and while there was hazard of inability received a temporary provision very inadequate to what was made for other parts of the Debt having on no principle a higher Claim. The advantages to result to the U.S. are on a Comparison of what they now pay (not what the unsubscribing Creditor is entitled to receive) with what they would pay in the Event of loans being contracted on the following principles.

On every 100 Dollrs. you pay 2 Drs. pr ann: of the Principal, stopping thereby an Interest of 12 Cents for wch if you hire the Money at 5 pr Ct: you pay 10 Cents* leaving to the U.S. to operate a reduction of the principal 2 Cts pr 100 Dollrs. whereas by the above mode you would have 25 Cts pr Ann: to apply to this purpose. It will be needless to repeat the Increase of benefit in this View under the following Calculations.

(a) If this plan should meet the Acquiescence of the Creditors therefore the Object would be valuable but no specific gain on a Comparison with what is now paid

Again		as annex’d	15
	300	Dollrs. loaned at 4½ pr Ct (⅓rd payable. in Indents) would pay	13–50
		leaving on 300 Drs. Principal an Annuity of	1–50 equal to ½ pr Ct:
Again		as above	15–
	300	Drs. loaned at 4 pr Ct: would pay	12–
		Annual Bonus	3 equal to 1 pr Ct

The following Calculations apply to that part of the Debt wch now pays 5 pr Ct: Vizt:

(a) The observation (a) annex’d applies here.

118 Dollars Omnium or 100 Dollrs Registered Debt bearing Interest from 31st Decr 1787 have been funded and may be computed as follows Vizt:

being 4 Drs 71⁴⁷⁄₁₀₀ Cts (say 4 Drs. 71½ Cts) pr Ct:—computing the value of Money at 6 pr Ct: and the Interest also wch is nearer the Value at the time of subscribing and (considering the irredeemable quality of the deferred as well as the 6 pr Ct Stock) perhaps a more proper mode of ascertaining the comparative benefit—instead of 4–71½ this would amount to 4 Drs. 78⁹⁄₁₀ Cts (say 4–79) and without considering the subscribability of a great part of it to the national Bank, the benefit resulting from the irredeemable quality of the Debt under the actual fall that has taken place and the fair prospects of a farther fall in the Market rate of Interest may be fairly computed at 21 Cents pr Ann: at least; making 5 pr Ct:. I will not trouble you with a long round of Calculations on the benefits the U.S. might derive from opening new Loans for the discharge of the unsubscrib’d Debt on a Comparison of such loans with what they have paid as above, but will observe that if loans were opened to the full Amount at 5 pr Ct for those purposes receivable either in specie or in any part of the Debt and any specie received thereon appropriated bona fide to the redemption of such part of the Debt as may not be subscribed and the stock created by these loans made redeemable at the pleasure of the Government; or (wch would on some Accots be better) on one, two or three Years Notice being given to the Creditors; the benefit wch the Government would thus derive from the fall in the Market rate of Interest would very shortly shew this to be far the more profitable Arrangement. Loans at 4½ would be far within either of the above, independent of other advantages; but were it not that the sound of a six pr Ct: Interest might alarm the Legislature and occasion delay, singular tho’ the opinion may appear, had I had as great a propensity to, as I have had aversion from, embarking in political pursuits and had I even acquired reputation therein I should not be afraid to risque it on the opinion, that to fund it at 6 pr Ct: at once redeemable ad libitum, or on short Notice, would have the advantage of every other plan. Among others it would have that of raising them so rapidly as to prevent foreigners getting them at an under value. It would increase and hasten the Ability of the Government to loan at a low Interest from the Circumstance of it’s thus meeting the tenor of the Contract at the moment of their finding themselves able to do it (and I hope and trust that the Government of the U.S. is now in a Condition above asking favors of its Creditors). It would enable the Agents of the U.S. to promote and benefit by a fair Competition of the Money lenders without leaving it in the power of a few interested persons to discourage them by insinuations of broken faith. In short, beside the Convenience of having a large proportion of the debt redeemable on the fall of the Market rate of Interest, it would give that spring to the Credit of the U.S. that can only be derived from the Assurance that the Government is able and ever has been willing to meet it’s Obligations with respectability, magnanimity and honor.

With much respect and Esteem   I remain,   sir,   Your very hble servt: